Rep. Allison Hepler

Maddy summaryLD 1341 is a resolution directing Maine's Department of Marine Resources to evaluate how two licensed lobster or scallop fishermen can operate from a single vessel without increasing the total catch. The department must consult with lobster advisory councils and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission during its review. It must submit a report to the Marine Resources Committee by January 14, 2026, which may include recommendations for new legislation. This resolution does not change current fishing rules but initiates a process to potentially adjust them based on the findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill (LD 1982) updates Maine's legal definition of "PFAS" to match the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's technical definition. It amends two key statutes (32 MRSA §1732 and 38 MRSA §1614) to align the state's definition with the EPA's standard for fluorinated chemicals containing specific molecular structures. This change ensures uniformity across multiple environmental regulations, including those governing toxics in packaging, PFAS-containing products, firefighting foam, waste discharges, and contamination cleanup funds. The bill does not create new restrictions but standardizes existing regulatory language to reflect federal definitions.

Maddy summaryLD 1712 amends Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program to adjust requirements for employees and employers. It requires employees to give reasonable notice before taking leave and allows employers to deny leave based on specific, defined hardships (such as having fewer than 15 employees, a summer labor shortage, or more than 25% of staff already on leave), without review of such decisions. The bill also revises benefit calculations to replace 65% of average weekly wage (with 90% replacement for wages up to 50% of the state average and 66% for higher wages), shortens application deadlines for benefits (with waivers for good cause), and modifies premium payments so employers deduct 50% of the cost from employee wages while covering the remaining 50%.

Maddy summaryLD 1063 requires Maine's Public Utilities Commission to direct investor-owned electric utilities to competitively bid for contracts to purchase electricity and renewable energy credits from generators using municipal solid waste (trash) in combination with recycling. The bill mandates a competitive solicitation by November 1, 2025, for up to 35 megawatts of power, with contracts requiring pricing below 7 cents per kilowatt-hour and terms of 5-15 years. Only generators that pay Maine state excise, income, property, and sales taxes qualify for these contracts. This policy directly affects utilities (who must procure the power) and qualifying waste-to-energy generators (who must meet tax requirements to participate).

Maddy summaryLD 1431 authorizes Maine's Secretary of State to create an interstate voter registration cross-check program. The program would compare Maine's voter registration lists with those of other states to identify individuals registered in multiple jurisdictions, helping maintain accurate voter rolls. Maine must protect all voter data - including names, addresses, birth years, and registration details - during data exchanges, and the program must comply with federal voter registration laws. The Secretary of State may contract with private data systems to support this effort, but costs cannot exceed existing voter registration maintenance funding. This bill directly affects Maine's voter registration system and the privacy of registered voters' information.

Maddy summaryHP 1329 is a joint resolution expressing the Maine Legislature's opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard's plan to remove navigational buoys along Maine's coast. It directly affects Maine's commercial fishing communities and recreational boaters (like kayakers and anglers), who rely on physical buoys for safe navigation in rocky, fog-prone waters where electronic systems may fail or be inaccessible. The resolution cites the Coast Guard's modernization plan but emphasizes that removing buoys would create safety hazards, especially for those without reliable electronic alternatives. It formally states the legislature's position against the proposed removal during the 132nd Legislature's first special session.

Maddy summaryLD 1525 establishes firewood banks in Maine as organizations that collect donated firewood and provide it free to residents in need of heating assistance. The bill requires the Bureau of Forestry to maintain a public online list of all operating firewood banks, develop operational resources for them, and mandate that state timber harvesting on state-owned land within 50 miles of a listed bank must offer 8 to 13 cords of hardwood as a donation. It also provides liability protection for firewood banks and their host municipalities, and directs environmental guidance for managing waste and environmental impacts related to their operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new $50 "green crab only" wholesale dealer license for businesses that exclusively handle green crabs (Carcinus maenas). It allows license holders to buy, sell, process, ship, or transport green crabs directly from licensed harvesters in Maine, offering a lower-cost alternative to the existing $192.75 wholesale seafood license. The license requires dealers to verify harvesters have valid green crab harvesting permits and subjects violators to penalties or license suspension. The law includes a sunset provision, repealing the license on January 1, 2031, and mandates a department review and report to the 2030 Legislature on its effectiveness and potential changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new license requirement for individuals taking paying customers recreational fishing on charter boats in Maine's coastal waters. It also mandates that all recreational halibut anglers in coastal waters register with the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry. Charter boat operators must obtain a $25 (resident) or $50 (nonresident) license, which requires either a Coast Guard vessel certificate or a current tidewater fishing guide license. All license fees go to the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund, while halibut anglers must register regardless of previous exceptions.

Maddy summaryLD 1550 requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to update septic system rules to protect water quality. It mandates new design standards for septic disposal fields in areas with high-risk soil conditions - specifically sandy/gravelly layers or bedrock fractures that cause "short circuiting" (where nutrients bypass natural soil filtration). The changes must reduce nutrient pollution by improving natural filtration processes, but only apply to high-risk sites. The bill also ensures land already suitable for septic systems cannot become unsuitable due to these rule updates. This affects homeowners and developers in Maine's high-risk soil areas, with the Department implementing the changes using existing resources.